User interface and method for identifying related information displayed in an ultrasound system

ABSTRACT

A user interface and method for identifying related information displayed in an ultrasound system are provided. A medical image display of the ultrasound system includes a first region configured to display a medical image having color coded portions and a second region configured to display non-image data related to the medical image displayed in the first region. The non-image data is color coded to associate the non-image data with the color coded portions of the medical image.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to medical imagingsystems, and more particularly, to medical imaging systems displayinginformation in different portions of a divided display screen.

Ultrasound systems are used in a variety of applications and byindividuals with varied levels of skill. In many examinations, operatorsof the ultrasound system provide inputs used by the system to processthe information for later analysis. Once processed, the information maybe displayed in different formats. For example, the processedinformation may be displayed in different graphs or charts and/or asstatic or moving images. Further, the information may be displayed ondifferent screens or on the same screen. Additionally, the informationmay be combined, for example, multiple traces on a single graph and/orone type of information overlaid on another type of information orimage. Thus, multiple pieces of information may be provided on a screenor within a portion of the screen.

The amount of information that may be displayed can be large. Further,the presentation of the information on the screen, for example, theorientation and configuration of the information may make it difficultto distinguish between closely presented information, such as two tracesdisplayed in close proximity on a graph. Additionally, it is oftendifficult to associate or correlate information displayed on differentportions of a screen.

Thus, it may be difficult for a user to review and analyze theinformation displayed in different portions of a screen. Thesedifficulties add time to the review and analysis process, andaccordingly cost to the overall evaluation process. Further, a user mayincorrectly view or associate information, which can lead to improperanalysis and diagnosis, resulting in improper treatment for a patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a medicalimage display is provided that includes a first region configured todisplay a medical image having color coded portions and a second regionconfigured to display non-image data related to the medical imagedisplayed in the first region. The non-image data is color coded toassociate the non-image data with the color coded portions of themedical image.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, amedical image display is provided that includes data corresponding to adisplayed image and displayed in combination with the displayed image,and visual indications associating data in a first region with data in asecond region. The visual indications are color coded based on asegmental spatial view of the displayed image.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, amethod to associate medical information displayed in different regionsof a display of a medical imaging system is provided. The methodincludes color coding data in different regions of the display,associating data in the different regions based on the color coding anddisplaying at least one visual indication corresponding to the colorcoded data in the different regions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a diagnostic ultrasound system formed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an ultrasound processor module of thediagnostic ultrasound system of FIG. 1 formed in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a window presented on a display for displayingmedical imaging information in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention and having an overlay.

FIG. 4 illustrates a multi-window display for displaying medical imaginginformation in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is flowchart of a method in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention to identify and associate information displayed in differentportions of a display of a medical imaging system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of ultrasound systems and methods for identifyingrelated information are described in detail below. In particular, adetailed description of an exemplary ultrasound system will first beprovided followed by a detailed description of various embodiments ofmethods and systems for associating and correlating informationdisplayed in different portions of a screen. A technical effect of thevarious embodiments of the systems and methods described herein includeat least one of facilitating the identification and association ofdifferent corresponding information displayed on different portions of adisplay.

It should be noted that although the various embodiments may bedescribed in connection with an ultrasound system, the methods andsystems described herein are not limited to ultrasound imaging. Inparticular, the various embodiments may be implemented in connectionwith different types of medical imaging, including, for example,magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed-tomography (CT) imaging.Further, the various embodiments may be implemented in other non-medicalimaging systems, for example, non-destructive testing systems.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an ultrasound system 20, and moreparticularly, a diagnostic ultrasound system 20 formed in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasound system 20includes a transmitter 22 that drives an array of elements 24 (e.g.,piezoelectric crystals) within a transducer 26 to emit pulsed ultrasonicsignals into a body or volume. A variety of geometries may be used andthe transducer 26 may be provided as part of, for example, differenttypes of ultrasound probes. The ultrasonic signals are back-scatteredfrom structures in the body, for example, blood cells or musculartissue, to produce echoes that return to the elements 24. The echoes arereceived by a receiver 28. The received echoes are provided to abeamformer 30 that performs beamforming and outputs an RF signal. The RFsignal is then provided to an RF processor 32 that processes the RFsignal. Alternatively, the RF processor 32 may include a complexdemodulator (not shown) that demodulates the RF signal to form IQ datapairs representative of the echo signals. The RF or IQ signal data maythen be provided directly to a memory 34 for storage (e.g., temporarystorage).

The ultrasound system 20 also includes a processor module 36 to processthe acquired ultrasound information (e.g., RF signal data or IQ datapairs) and prepare frames of ultrasound information for display on adisplay 38. The processor module 36 is adapted to perform one or moreprocessing operations according to a plurality of selectable ultrasoundmodalities on the acquired ultrasound information. Acquired ultrasoundinformation may be processed in real-time during a scanning session asthe echo signals are received. Additionally or alternatively, theultrasound information may be stored temporarily in the memory 34 duringa scanning session and processed in less than real-time in a live oroff-line operation. An image memory 40 is included for storing processedframes of acquired ultrasound information that are not scheduled to bedisplayed immediately. The image memory 40 may comprise any known datastorage medium, for example, a permanent storage medium, removablestorage medium, etc.

The processor module 36 is connected to a user interface 42 thatcontrols operation of the processor module 36 as explained below in moredetail and is configured to receive inputs from an operator. The display38 includes one or more monitors that present patient information,including diagnostic ultrasound images to the user for review, diagnosisand analysis. The display 38 may automatically display, for example,multiple planes from a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound data set storedin the memory 34 or 40. One or both of the memory 34 and the memory 40may store 3D data sets of the ultrasound data, where such 3D data setsare accessed to present 2D and 3D images. For example, a 3D ultrasounddata set may be mapped into the corresponding memory 34 or 40, as wellas one or more reference planes. The processing of the data, includingthe data sets, is based in part on user inputs, for example, userselections received at the user interface 42.

In operation, the system 20 acquires data, for example, volumetric datasets by various techniques (e.g., 3D scanning, real-time 3D imaging,volume scanning, 2D scanning with transducers having positioningsensors, freehand scanning using a voxel correlation technique, scanningusing 2D or matrix array transducers, etc.). The data is acquired bymoving the transducer 26, such as along a linear or arcuate path, whilescanning a region of interest (ROI). At each linear or arcuate position,the transducer 26 obtains scan planes that are stored in the memory 34.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of the ultrasoundprocessor module 36 of FIG. 1 formed in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. The ultrasound processor module 36 is illustratedconceptually as a collection of sub-modules, but may be implementedutilizing any combination of dedicated hardware boards, DSPs,processors, etc. Alternatively, the sub-modules of FIG. 2 may beimplemented utilizing an off-the-shelf PC with a single processor ormultiple processors, with the functional operations distributed betweenthe processors. As a further option, the sub-modules of FIG. 2 may beimplemented utilizing a hybrid configuration in which certain modularfunctions are performed utilizing dedicated hardware, while theremaining modular functions are performed utilizing an off-the shelf PCand the like. The sub-modules also may be implemented as softwaremodules within a processing unit.

The operations of the sub-modules illustrated in FIG. 2 may becontrolled by a local ultrasound controller 50 or by the processormodule 36. The sub-modules 52-68 perform mid-processor operations. Theultrasound processor module 36 may receive ultrasound data 70 in one ofseveral forms. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the received ultrasound data70 constitutes I,Q data pairs representing the real and imaginarycomponents associated with each data sample. The I,Q data pairs areprovided to one or more of a color-flow sub-module 52, a power Dopplersub-module 54, a B-mode sub-module 56, a spectral Doppler sub-module 58and an M-mode sub-module 60. Optionally, other sub-modules may beincluded such as an Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) sub-module62, a strain module 64, a strain rate sub-module 66, a Tissue Doppler(TDE) sub-module 68, among others. The strain sub-module 62, strain ratesub-module 66 and TDE sub-module 68 together may define anechocardiographic processing portion.

Each of sub-modules 52-68 are configured to process the I,Q data pairsin a corresponding manner to generate color-flow data 72, power Dopplerdata 74, B-mode data 76, spectral Doppler data 78, M-mode data 80, ARFIdata 82, echocardiographic strain data 82, echocardiographic strain ratedata 86 and tissue Doppler data 88, all of which may be stored in amemory 90 (or memory 34 or image memory 40 shown in FIG. 1) temporarilybefore subsequent processing. The data 72-88 may be stored, for example,as sets of vector data values, where each set defines an individualultrasound image frame. The vector data values are generally organizedbased on the polar coordinate system.

A scan converter sub-module 92 access and obtains from the memory 90 thevector data values associated with an image frame and converts the setof vector data values to Cartesian coordinates to generate an ultrasoundimage frame 94 formatted for display. The ultrasound image frames 94generated by the scan converter module 92 may be provided back to thememory 90 for subsequent processing or may be provided to the memory 34or the image memory 40.

Once the scan converter sub-module 92 generates the ultrasound imageframes 94 associated with, for example, the strain data, strain ratedata, and the like, the image frames may be restored in the memory 90 orcommunicated over a bus 96 to a database (not shown), the memory 34, theimage memory 40 and/or to other processors (not shown).

As an example, it may be desired to view different types of ultrasoundimages relating to echocardiographic functions in real-time on thedisplay 38 (shown in FIG. 1). To do so, the scan converter sub-module 92obtains strain or strain rate vector data sets for images stored in thememory 90. The vector data is interpolated where necessary and convertedinto an X,Y format for video display to produce ultrasound image frames.The scan converted ultrasound image frames are provided to a displaycontroller (not shown) that may include a video processor that maps thevideo to a grey-scale mapping for video display. The grey-scale map mayrepresent a transfer function of the raw image data to displayed greylevels. Once the video data is mapped to the grey-scale values, thedisplay controller controls the display 38, which may include one ormore monitors or windows of the display, to display the image frame. Theechocardiographic image displayed in the display 38 is produced from animage frame of data in which each datum indicates the intensity orbrightness of a respective pixel in the display. In this example, thedisplay image represents muscle motion in a region of interest beingimaged.

Referring again to FIG. 2, a 2D video processor sub-module 94 combinesone or more of the frames generated from the different types ofultrasound information. For example, the 2D video processor sub-module94 may combine a different image frames by mapping one type of data to agrey map and mapping the other type of data to a color map for videodisplay. In the final displayed image, the color pixel data issuperimposed on the grey scale pixel data to form a single multi-modeimage frame 98 that is again re-stored in the memory 90 or communicatedover the bus 96. Successive frames of images may be stored as a cineloop in the memory 90 or memory 40 (shown in FIG. 1). The cine looprepresents a first in, first out circular image buffer to capture imagedata that is displayed in real-time to the user. The user may freeze thecine loop by entering a freeze command at the user interface 42. Theuser interface 42 may include, for example, a keyboard and mouse and allother input controls associated with inputting information into theultrasound system 20 (shown in FIG. 1).

A 3D processor sub-module 100 is also controlled by the user interface42 and accesses the memory 90 to obtain spatially consecutive groups ofultrasound image frames and to generate three dimensional imagerepresentations thereof, such as through volume rendering or surfacerendering algorithms as are known. The three dimensional images may begenerated utilizing various imaging techniques, such as ray-casting,maximum intensity pixel projection and the like.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide indications on ascreen display to associate or correlate information in differentportions of the screen, for example, for visual correlation by a userwhen, for example, selecting points/regions and viewing images on thedisplay 38 (shown in FIG. 1). FIG. 3 is an exemplary window 110 (ordisplay panel) that may be presented on the display 38 or a portionthereof and controlled by the user interface 42 (shown in FIG. 1). Forexample, multiple windows may be provided on a divided single screen.The user may access different input means as part of the user interface42, for example, a mouse, trackball and keyboard, among others, to movea cursor or marker within the window 110, for example, to select certainpoints or regions within the window 110 (e.g., point and click with amouse).

The window 110 generally includes an image portion 112 and a non-imageportion 114 that may provide different information relating to the imagebeing displayed, the status of the system, etc. For example, thenon-image portion 112 may include time and date information 116, animage type label 118 and a status indicator 120. More particularly, thetime and date information 116 may show the current time and date or thetime and date at which the image being displayed on the image portion112 was acquired. The image type label 118 provides an indication of,for example, the view of the image being displayed, which in theexemplary window 110 is an Apical Long Axis (APLAX) view. The statusindicator 120 provides an indication of the status of the current systemprocessing and the overall system processing, for example, by theshading of different segments 140 of the status indicator as describedin co-pending U.S. patent application entitled “USER INTERFACE ANDMETHOD FOR DISPLAYING INFORMATION IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM” having Ser.No. 11/418,778 and assigned to assignee of the present invention.

Additional or alternate information may be provided, for example, framenumber information 130 identifying the image frame being viewed in theimage portion 112 and a legend 132 identifying portions of an image 126,for example, portions of a segmented overlay 122 having a plurality ofsegments 124. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when displaying an image126 of a heart, six segments may be provided to divide an outlinedefining an endocardial border and an epicardial border of themyocardium into different regions. In particular, the legend 132 mayinclude a plurality of labels 134 corresponding to different segments124 of the segmented overlay 122. The labels 134 may include anabbreviated description of the region of the image 126 identified by thecorresponding segment 124. Each of the labels 134 may be provided in aseparate text box that is color coded with the corresponding segment 124having an outline in the same color. Essentially, each label 134 is anidentifier for a corresponding segment 124. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3,six different colors may be used to color code and identify the labels134 of the legend 132 with the corresponding segment 124.

The window 110 is merely exemplary of a display screen that may beprovided to display medical image data according to various embodimentsof the invention. However, different windows with different informationmay be provided on a plurality of displays or in different portions of asingle display 38. For example, a display 38 may include a plurality ofwindows including a first window 150, a second window 152, a thirdwindow 154 and a fourth window 156 as shown in FIG. 4. The windows150-156 may be configured to define a quad-view with the display 38divided into four generally equal sized regions. In this embodiment, andwhen displaying, for example, an image of a heart, the first window 150may be configured to display a moving image 160, for example, acontinuously running cine loop of the heart in a particular view (e.g.,Apical Long Axis View, two chamber view or four chamber view). The firstwindow 150 may display the moving image 160 of the heart as a grayscalecine loop of a full heart cycle or a portion thereof. Alternatively, theimage may be stopped to display a single image frame of the displayedheart.

The first window 150 may also include information overlaid on the movingimage 160, for example, a color coded overlay 162 displayed as afunction of time and defined by a color coded legend 164 showing a colorcoded scale representing different strain value or levels, such as,percentage levels. In one embodiment, the overlaid information is alocal instantaneous strain value displayed as a function of time. Forexample, the local instantaneous strain value may be a percentage valuebased on a change in length of the heart muscle at a particularlocation, such as based on a percent of muscle contraction. The strainvalue may be calculated in any known manner using, for example, thestrain sub-module 64 (shown in FIG. 2). The calculated strain values maybe stored in a database that associates the strain value with a portionof the moving image 160 having the color coded overlay 162 andassociated and identified, for example, by a pixel position in the firstwindow 150. For example, calculated strain values may be stored in anaddressable table wherein each address corresponds to a differentdisplayed pixel or region of the color coded overlay 162. Accordingly,when a portion of the color coded overlay is selected, for example, witha marker 166 (e.g., virtual circle element) by moving the marker to thatportion with a mouse of the user interface 42 (shown in FIG. 1), theinstantaneous strain value for that region, as determined by the storedstrain values, is displayed as strain value information 168. The strainvalue information 168 may represent, for example, a global strain (GS)value across the entire region represented by the color coded overlay162 (e.g., the percentage change of the entire length of the regionrepresented by the color coded overlay 162). Thus, the color codedoverlay 162 may be a virtual map overlaid on a muscle portion of animage of the heart with the coloring corresponding to the colors of thecolor coded legend 164.

The second window 152 may be configured to display the segmented overlay122 having the plurality of color coded segments 124 as described inmore detail above in connection with FIG. 3. Each of the segments 124may be defined by a different colored solid line generally defining anarea (e.g., a rectangular area). The color coded legend 164 also may beprovided similar to the first window 150. In this embodiment, an averagestrain value 170 is provided within each of the segments 124. Inparticular, an average strain value 170 as a function of time for theregion defined by the segment 124 is displayed in the correspondingsegment 124. For example, the average strain value at a particular timeis calculated. The average strain value 170 may be calculated byaveraging the instantaneous strain values stored in the database.Additionally, when a portion of the color coded overlay 162 in the firstwindow 150 is selected, for example, with the marker 166 (e.g., virtualcircle element) by moving the marker to that portion with a mouse of theuser interface 42, a peak systolic strain value 172 is displayed in thesecond window 152 corresponding to the point or region where the marker166 is positioned in the first window 150. Thus, when the marker 166 isplaced at any point in the color coded overlay 162 in the first window150, the peak systolic value 172 corresponding to that point isdisplayed in the second window 152. Alternatively, the peak systolicvalue 172 may be displayed in other regions of the display 38, forexample, in the first window 150. It should be noted that the peaksystolic value 172 in one embodiment is the peak systolic strain, andmore particularly, the peak negative strain if the peak occurs duringsystole or end systolic strain if the peak occurs later. This valuegenerally may be the strain value as a function of any time during theheart cycle.

It should be noted that other physiological parameters may be mapped asa function of time and displayed in one of the first and second windows150 and 152, for example, a parametric peak systolic strain image withcorresponding numeric values. Further, it should be noted that when anew or different view or image is displayed in one of the first andsecond windows 150 and/or 152, a new overlay or corresponding values arealso displayed based on the new view or image. Additionally, if theimage displayed is modified, for example, inverted, the overlay, colorcoding and corresponding text is also inverted. The inversion may beprovided by remapping of the pixels in one of the first and secondwindows 150 and/or 152.

The third window 154 may be configured to display non-image data, forexample, a graph 180 of a plurality of strain curves 182 plotted as afunction of time. For example, the plurality of strain curves 182 mayrepresent average strain as a function of time with each curve tracecorresponding to a different segment 124 of the segmented overlay 122displayed in the second window 152. Thus, in this example, six curvetraces corresponding to the six segments 124 are generated and displayedin any known manner. In one embodiment, each of the curve traces of theplurality of strain curves 182 are provided in a different colorcorresponding to the color of the segment 124 (e.g., color of theoutline of the segment 124) in the second window 152 to which the curvetrace is related.

In operation, when a portion of the segmented overlay 122 in the secondwindow 152 is selected, for example, when the marker 166 (e.g., virtualcircle element) is moved into one of the segments 124 with a mouse ofthe user interface 42, the curve trace in the third window 154corresponding to the selected segment 124 is highlighted. For example, asingle one of the plurality of strain curves 182 corresponding to thesegment 124 selected is highlighted, which may be, for example, tobrighten the color of the trace, enlarge the trace line, change thecolor of the trace to another highlighted color (e.g., highlighted red),etc. In general, a visual indication of the single one of the pluralityof strain curves 182 corresponding to the selected segment 124 isprovided. Additionally, if the marker 166 is placed on one of theplurality of strain curves 182, the curve trace selected may behighlighted and the corresponding segment 124 in the second window 152is highlighted or an average strain value displayed.

The fourth window 156 may be configured to display information or animage corresponding to the images in the first and second windows 150and 152, for example, a color M-mode image 184. The color M-mode image184 also may be displayed such that colors in the image correspond tothe colored indications and color coding in the first, second and thirdwindows 150, 152 and 154.

Various embodiments provide a method 200 as shown in FIG. 5 to identifyand associate information displayed in different regions of a display ofa medical imaging system, and more particularly, an ultrasound system.Specifically, at 202 a region within the display that is selected isidentified. For example, the region wherein a marker or other visualselector is positioned by a user is identified. This may include, forexample, identifying which of a plurality of windows on a screencontains the marker. Also, a determination may be made as to thedifferent information displayed in the various regions, for example, thedifferent images or views displayed. Thereafter, a determination is madeas to whether the region is within a defined area at 204. This mayinclude, for example, determining whether the region is within a segment124 of the segmented overlay 124 in the second window 152, for example,whether pixels of the display 28 are within a segment 124 (all shown inFIG. 4). As another example, the determination at 204 may includedetermining whether the region is within a portion of the color codedoverlay 162, for example, whether pixels of the display 28 are within aparticular portion of the color coded overlay 162 (all shown in FIG. 4).The identification of selected regions or pixels at 202 and/or 204 maybe performed using any known process, for example, associating a virtualmarker with corresponding pixels within or encompassed by the virtualmarker.

If at 204 a determination is made that the region is not within adefined area, then the current display is continued at 206. For example,the images and indications on the display are not changed and the methodagain identifies a selected region of the display. For example, thedisplay may be sampled on a continuous or periodic basis to identify theposition of, for example, a virtual marker. The display also may besampled upon detecting movement of the virtual marker.

If at 204 a determination is made that the region is within a definedarea, then at 206 the properties and associated information for thedefined area are identified. For example, properties and associatedinformation may be provided corresponding to each pixel or a group ofpixels within a defined area. This information may include, for example,calculated data for that defined area. In the embodiment whereinmyocardial images, etc. are displayed the information may include localinstantaneous strain values, average/peak strain values for a segmentand/or percentage strain value for the segment. The defined area alsomay include properties, such as that the area is linked or associatedwith another region of the display, for example, in another window. Forexample, information within a single segment in a segmented overlay inone window may be linked to a single curve trace in another window. Asanother example, information in a single segment in the segmentedoverlay may be associated with a legend or numerical value informationdisplayed in one or more of the windows. Information that is correlatedor associated may be identified by the same color in different windows.

The properties and associated information, for example, calculated andmeasured values may be stored in a database that associates theproperties and information with the defined area, for example, a portionof a segmented map or a portion of a displayed image. The informationmay be stored in the database based on pixel association in the display,for example, pixels in each of the windows. The properties, such aslinks and associated information, including data values may be stored inan addressable table wherein each address corresponds to a differentdisplayed pixel or region of the defined area. The visual indications tobe provided, the linking, etc. may be predetermined and/or user defined.

Upon identifying the properties and associated information, then at 208,a determination is made as to visual indications to provide based onselected pixels within the defined area that correspond to theidentified properties and associated information. The visual indicationsto provide may be based on selected pixels with the corresponding visualindications defined within the database by the stored properties andassociated information. The visual indications may include, for example,displaying a data value in a portion of the display corresponding to theselected region and/or highlighting another portion of the display(e.g., in another window) corresponding to the selected region. Thevisual indications may include providing the visual indications showingrelated information as described above with respect to FIG. 4. Forexample, the defined area may be a segment of the segmented overlaycorresponding to a single trace curve. The determined visual indicationmay be to highlight the curve trace corresponding to the selectedsegment. As another example, associated information, for example, apercentage strain value may be displayed if the defined area is withinan instantaneous strain overlay. The information may be displayed in thesame window or a different window than the selected region. Theinformation may be linked and associated based on, for example, amapping of the pixel data.

It should be noted that some of the information may be displayedcontinuously and some of the information may be displayed only whenselected. For example, average strain values in each segment 124 of asegmented overlay 122 may be continuously displayed in the segmentedoverlay 122 or color-coding to associate segments 124 in a spatial viewwith physiological parameters graphed over time may be displayed asshown in FIG. 4. As another example, percentage strain values andhighlighting of curve traces may be displayed only when a correspondingregion is selected and a visual indication is to be provided.

The visual indication is then displayed at 210. Thereafter, adetermination is made at 212 as to whether a different region isselected, for example, by movement of the virtual marker to another areaof the display. If a different region is not selected, then at 214 thecurrent visual indications continue to be displayed. If a differentregion is selected, then a determination is made at 204 as to whetherthe region is within a defined area and the process proceeds asdescribed above.

Thus, various embodiments provide a display that includes visualindications that associate information displayed in different portionsof the display. The visual indications may be provided continuously(e.g., color coding) or upon selecting a particular region of interest,which includes linking or associating information related to theselected region of interest.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specificembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventioncan be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A medical image display comprising: a firstregion configured to display a medical image having color codedportions; a second region configured to display non-image data relatedto the medical image displayed in the first region, the non-image datacolor coded to associate the non-image data with the color codedportions of the medical image; and a color coded segment overlaysuperimposed on the displayed medical image, wherein the medical imageis an image of a heart and the color coded segment overlay defines amyocardium of the heart and displays strain data for each segment withina corresponding portion of the color coded segment overlay.
 2. A medicalimage display in accordance with claim 1 wherein the medical image issegmented with each segment having a different corresponding color.
 3. Amedical image display in accordance with claim 1 wherein the color codedportions define color coded segments of the myocardium of the displayedmedical image, each segment having a differently colored solid outlineand including a visual indication of an average strain value, andwherein the non-image data comprises a plurality of trace curves showingaverage strain data over time, each of the plurality of trace curvescorresponding to a different color coded segment and colored in the samecolor as the colored outline of the corresponding color coded segment.4. A medical image display in accordance with claim 1 wherein themedical image displayed in the first region is acquired from a region ofinterest by a medical imaging system constituting one of an MRI system,CT system and Ultrasound system.
 5. A medical image display inaccordance with claim 1 wherein the medical image displayed in the firstregion is acquired from a region of interest by an ultrasound systemthat processes acquired ultrasound information from a region of interestand prepares a frame of ultrasound information for display as themedical image.
 6. A medical image display in accordance with claim 5,the ultrasound information containing at least one of the strain dataand strain rate data, the color coded portions of the medical imagebeing color coded based upon the values of at least one of the straindata and strain rate data.
 7. A medical image display comprising: afirst region configured to display a medical image having color codedportions; a second region configured to display non-image data relatedto the medical image displayed in the first region, the non-image datacolor coded to associate the non-image data with the color codedportions of the medical image, wherein the non-image data comprisesphysiologic parameter data graphed over time; and a single trace curvecorresponding to each color coded portion of the displayed medical imagewith each single trace curve colored the same as the corresponding colorcoded portion of the displayed medical image.
 8. A medical image displayin accordance with claim 7 wherein the single trace curve correspondingto a color coded portion of the displayed medical image is highlightedupon selection by a user of the corresponding color coded portion.
 9. Amedical image display comprising: a first region configured to display amedical image having color coded portions; and a second regionconfigured to display non-image data related to the medical imagedisplayed in the first region, the non-image data color coded toassociate the non-image data with the color coded portions of themedical image, wherein the displayed medical image is configured in acolor coded segmental view and the non-image data comprises a pluralityof curves defining a graph of physiologic parameters segmented intocolor bands corresponding to the segments of the color coded segmentalview.
 10. A medical image display comprising: a first region configuredto display a medical image having color coded portions; a second regionconfigured to display non-image data related to the medical imagedisplayed in the first region, the non-image data color coded toassociate the non-image data with the color coded portions of themedical image; and a third region configured to display the medicalimage with a color coded overlay superimposed on the medical image, thecolor coded overlay defining strain values displayed as a function oftime.
 11. A medical image display in accordance with claim 10 furthercomprising a color coded legend identifying a strain percentage rangecorresponding to the color coded overlay.
 12. A medical image display inaccordance with claim 10 further comprising a strain value displayed andassociated with a selected region in one of the color coded overlay inthe third region and the color coded portions in the first region.
 13. Amedical image display in accordance with claim 12 wherein the strainvalue is automatically updated based on the region selected.
 14. Amedical image display in accordance with claim 10 wherein the first,second and third regions define separate windows in a quad-viewarrangement.
 15. A medical image display in accordance with claim 10,wherein the strain values constitute one of strain data and strain ratedata.
 16. A method to associate medical information displayed indifferent regions of a display of a medical imaging system, the methodcomprising: color coding data in different regions of the display,wherein the data comprises a trace curve corresponding to one of aplurality of segmented color coded portions of a displayed medicalimage; associating data in the different regions based on the colorcoding; and displaying at least one visual indication corresponding tothe color coded data in the different regions.
 17. A method inaccordance with claim 16 wherein the displaying at least one visualindication comprises highlighting corresponding data.
 18. A method inaccordance with claim 16 wherein the displaying at least one visualindication further comprises displaying a dynamic value corresponding toa selected region.
 19. A method in accordance with claim 16 furthercomprising displaying an ultrasound image of a heart and wherein thecolor coded data comprises segmented strain data for a definedmyocardium.
 20. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprisingacquiring the medical image displayed in the first region from a regionof interest using a medical imaging system constituting one of an MRIsystem, CT system and ultrasound system.
 21. A method in accordance withclaim 16 further comprising acquiring the medical image displayed in thefirst region is from a region of interest using an ultrasound systemthat processes ultrasound information from a region of interest andprepares frames of ultrasound information for display as the medicalimage.
 22. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the ultrasoundinformation contains at least one of strain data and strain rate data,said method further comprising color coding the color coded portions ofthe medical image based upon the values of at least one of the straindata and strain rate data.